Choirs celebrate church music at Bury’s cathedral

Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) Celebration Day concert inSt Edmundsbury Cathedral ANL-150510-080029009

Published:17:02Wednesday 07 October 2015

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Choirs from all over East Anglia lifted up their voices at St Edmundsbury Cathedral last Saturday for the Royal School of Church Music’s Celebration Day.

The day takes place in a different cathedral each year and celebrates the work of the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) and its members.

Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) Celebration Day concert inSt Edmundsbury Cathedral ANL-150510-080114009

This year it combined with the St Edmundsbury and Ipswich Diocesan Choirs’ Festival, and members of the public were welcome to join the congregation.

The service was based on the RSCM festival service book ‘Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will be Done’, published earlier this year to commemorate the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta.

Its theme is social justice, and the music includes a Kyrie by William Byrd, Magnificat in A by Herbert Sumsion, and the anthems Strengthen ye the Weak Hands by William Harris and God be in my Head by Philip Wilby, along with prayers, readings and inspiring congregational hymns.

St Edmundsbury Cathedral Choir naturally took part in the service and the Bishop of St Edmundsbury, Rt Rev Martin Seeley, gave the address.

The service is also the annual opportunity for the RSCM to present honorary awards to those who have made significant contributions to church music.

Lord Gill, chairman of the RSCM Council, wpresented the certificates to leading church musicians from the UK and from RSCM branches as far afield as Canada and New Zealand. Certificates were also presented to students who have completed courses of study with the RSCM.